Pocket-closure.



N0. 681,66l. Patented Aug. 27, I90l.

J. M. SUNDEAN.

POCKET CLOSURE.

(Application filed Feb. 26, 1901.) (N o M o d a I.)

2 Sheetfi-Shoet l.

No. 681,66l. Patented Aug. 27, I901.

J. M. SUNDEAN.

POCKET CLOSURE.

(Application filed Feb. 26, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Shut 2.

(No Model.)

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Urrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. SUNDEAN, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN B. MESERVE AND I/VILLIAM S. STEIN, OF SAME PLACE.

POCKET-CLOSURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,661, dated August 2'7, 1901.

Application filed February 26,1901. fierial No. 48,971. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,JOHN M. SUNDEAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Linco1n,in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska,

5 have invented a new and useful Pocket-Glosure, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a pocket-closure adapted for application and use on garments or articles of clothing,pocket-books, and other devices to which the same may be applied; and the object in View is to provide effectivelyoperating means for closing the mouth of a pocket, so that the articles confined therein will be prevented from accidentally becoming disengaged therefrom, the parts of the said means being preferably constructed of the same material as the device or article to which it is applied and of a flexible easilyoperated nature.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a vest, showing the improved closure applied thereto and shown in shut condition. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the pocket-closure on a piece of the garment fabric and shown open. Fig. 3 is ah enlarged transverse vertical section of the pocket and closure as shown by Fig. 1. Fig. dis a perspective view of a pocket-book, showing the improved closure applied thereto and shown in shut condition. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a pocket-book with the improved closure thereon and shown open. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through the device shown by Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the improved pocket-closing means is shown applied to a garment or article of wearing-apparel-in this instance being avest. The pocket 9 is extended along the inner side of the vest above and below an entrance and exit opening 10, disposed transversely of the said vest, the greater portion of the pocket being below said opening. A holding-flap 11 is employed and composed of a double thickness of the same material of which the vest is formed or other material, as desired, and turned over the upper wall of the opening 10 and secured against the inner portion of the said pocket above the plane of said opening, the outer portion of the said doubled material being also secured to the material of the vest immediately above the opening 10. The outer or main portion of the flap 11 is free for grasping purposes, and the portion thereof Within the pocket forms a reinforce for the latter at the front to prevent tearing thereof and wear thereon. To the inner portion of the pocket 9 at the front and below the lower wall of the opening 10 a supplemental piece 12 is secured and projected loosely above the plane of said Wall and, in fact, completely above the opening 10 and bears on the inner reinforce portion of the flap 11 when the closure is in shut condition, as shown by Fig. 3, to thereby prevent the articles contained in the pocket-such as pens, pencils, or other devicesfrom falling out of the same. The upper loose portion of the supplemental piece 12 has the upper extremity of a lower pull-flap 13 secured thereto, to thus produce a reinforced lip 14, which is manually insertible through the opening 10 to close the pocket and withdrawal through said opening by a pull exerted on the flap 13 to open said pocket or clear the opening 10, so that the contents of the pocket may be accessible. It will be understood that the pull flap 13 is free of securement at all points except where fastened to the upper extended portion of the piece 12 ,as set forth, and will always remain in convenient exterior position for operation to withdraw the closin g-li p from the opening 10.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the numeral 1 designates a main pocket, which is inaccessible at the top and sealed, as usual, at the bottom, and, as shown, extends full length and width of the book. Entrance and exit to the pocket are obtained through an elongated opening 2 at the center and extending transversely of the side of the book, and, as

shown, two of these openings are provided,

though one only can be used without detracting in the least from the usefulness or intention of the closure. In connection with each pocket is a holding-flap 5, secured at its lower IOO edge to the material of which the body of the hook is formed close to and above the opening 2. Au inner piece 6, fastened to the interior of the side of the book-body, is projected upwardly through the opening 2 to form a closing-lip 7, and to the latter the upper portion of a pull-flap 8 is secured, the upper end of the said flap being extended beyond the similar edge of the lip to provide for an extended bearing of the lip conjointly formed by the projected portion of the piece 6 and the upper extremity of the flap 8. The flap 8 is attached only to the lip '7 and freely depends over the side of the book below said lip, so that it may be conveniently utilized for withdrawing the composite lip outwardly through the opening 2 when access to the pocket 1 is desired. In closing the improved device the composite lip, composed of the lip 7 and the upper extended portion of the flap 8, is inserted through the opening 2 and easily bears against the upper portion of the side of the book above the said opening, as shown to the left of Fig. 6, and when in such closed condition the contents of the book are free to move from oneend to the other without liability of escaping or passing through the exitopening therefor. The two pockets shown are constructed and operate precisely alike, and by providing two entrances to the book access may be had to the pocket 1 from either side. It is also obvious that the pocket 1 may in some instances be longitudinally divided by a suitable partition to produce separate pockets on opposite sides of the book and each having an opening of the form set forth and provided with a like closure; but the general construction of the pocket-book itself is immaterial in view of the fact that the invention resides in the form of closure set forth, and it is purposed to apply the entrance and exit opening 2 and employ therewith the closure which has been structurally defined in a simple form to any style or form of pocket-book to which said parts are adapted to practically apply.

The improved pocket-closure may be applied to other articles of wearing-apparel or garments and also to belts, reticules, and the like, the two different applications being intended to indicate that it has a general application and extended use. The pocket,

with the closure, as set forth, may be very conveniently used also for receiving small coins or tickets and for this purpose applied to a coat or trousers, or if applied to the clothing of workmen or artisans, such as jumpers or overalls, said closure for a pocket therein will be found exceptionally useful in-preventing tools from dropping out of the pocket, no matter what position the wearer may assume.

The general efficiency of the improved device, its simplicity and durability, and the minimized cost of manufacture render it a valuable acquisition to the art to which it pertains.

It is obvious that changes in the form, size, proportions, and minor details may be resorted to without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with a pocket having an entrance and exit opening, of a closure insertible into the pocket through the opening and withdrawal through the latter to respectively close and open the pocket, said closure having an exteriorly-located portion for operating the same.

2. The combination of a pocket having an entrance and exit opening at a point between the upper and lower terminals of the pocket, and a closure insertible into and withdrawable through said opening to respectively close and open the pocket, the upper extremity of the closure being free to extend into the upper portion of the pocket above the plane of said opening to serve to hold the closure in en? gagement with the pocket when performing its closing function.

3. The combination of a pocket having an entrance and exit opening, an upwardly-ex tending holding-flap secured above the opening, and a closure insertible into the pocket through the opening and withdrawable through the'latter to respectively close and open the pocket, said closure having a lip to interiorly engage the pocket and an exteri orly-located pull-flap.

4. The combination of a pocket having an entrance and exit opening, a holding-flap exteriorly located and secured above the opening, and a closure insertible into the pocket through the opening and withdrawable through the latter to respectively close and open the pocket and provided with a pullfiap which depends loosely therefrom.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. SUNDEAN.

Witnesses:

R. H. HAGELIN, LILLIAN SMITH. 

